"When I first listened to the mbira sound, I wanted to hear more and
more. I could not stop it, I was sick until I learned to play, so I
could hear these sounds, once declared Zimbabwe's Mbira Queen maestro,
Stella Rambisai Chiweshe.
The above experience is not unique to Stella, as she is known by her
legions of fans. Those were the same feelings that drove the only
Mbira music ensemble in Gweru , the Midlands Mbira Crew to the
traditional beat.
The group, a brainchild of three Mbira enthusiasts, Trymore Marowa,
Chigama Hope and James Chiguvare was formed in November last year.
The trio declares that as they play and listen to the Mbira beat they
are “engrossed in the spiritual world”, where they get possessed with
ancestral powers “that can cast the evils of society away.”
Martin Mgwagwa, the Manager of the group, said feelings of the artful
way ancestors lived made them play mbira music, an art he says is
“innate and does not need formal education.”
He added that the traditional beat is unique, compared to others as
Sungura as one plays using instruments that are not connected to
external wires.
"Mbira as part of art music is distinct from Sungura music that is
played out of wires connected to electricity for entertainment. As we
sing the song about Imbwa Machena yaenda yoga musango, it comes deep
in my heart through feelings that neither can be touched or seen",
said Mgwagwa. We play mbira to express our feelings as well as that of
my community using typical ancestry self made instruments that we want
to conserve as culture to our children, he added.
This group that is based in Gweru sings about the past in Chikaranga
and Zezuru language, especially in their songs like chidzima and
mhondoro. “Last week we performed in front of the spirit mediums from
Guruve that came to Costorage in Mkoba 9, to appease the ancestry to
open up the sky for the Midlands people”, said The Manager.
Mgwagwa revealed that mbira music is an important artistic prowess
that remind the people of Zimbabwe about their ancestors way of life
before the coming in of television and radios. He said that just like
Christianity, traditional living can be captured and conserved through
playing mbira to the people of Gweru.
Mbira music is more salient to social and economic issues than in
politics .As Midlands Mbira Crew we get invitations from all over the
country to perform, especially where there will be spirit mediums
(mhondoro) or where the will be some ceremonies to bless new buildings
or to cleanse away evil spirits. We have seen many artists dying of
HIV/Aids and if you are playing Mbira dzechivanhu it works on you as a
carthesis that disciplines and cleanses away evil. You can not sleep
around with women and come to singing mbira never, never, mbira will
deter you no-wonder why mbira singers do not die of HIV/AIDS, said
Mgwagwa.
The Midlands Mbira Crew is currently in need of the PA system and hope
that the Midlands National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) will assist
them through promotions and marketing by inviting them to provide
entertainment in big gatherings said one of the crew members, James
Chiguvare. He added that they are very grateful with the new Midlands
administration (NACZ) for the support they are giving them to market
themselves. Hope Chigama said that the NACZ in Midlands Province if
possible should inform them where there is need for their performance
since there are the only Mbira group so far in Gweru.
Mgwagwa said the group has a strong relationship with the Gweru
business community and performs in Beer Halls like Batanai bar in
Mkoba and Mnkandla Ekhaya Holdings Light Industry (Sponono).
He added that last year Mkoba Member of Parliament Mr Chibaya invited
them for a Christmas Party held at Mkoba Secondary School.
So far this group is yet to go for a tour, but are looking forward to
travel places all over the country performing. Seven members for
Midlands Mbira Crew namely Trymore Marowa, Hope Chagama, James
Chiguvare, Owen Mbano, Skanyisiwe Kanye, Author Mbano and Clara
Mashayamombe are looking forward to record their first album in mbira
music very soon.
There is need to teach mbira music at both primary and secondary level
as a way of preserving our local culture, said Mgwagwa the Manager. He
encouraged all artist around the country not be shy about what they
are doing. To the mbira arts groups across the country Mgwagwa
encouraged them to take mbira music seriously and not to be deterred
by negative comments from community members who perceive them as
marombe( poor people).
"We thank the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Midlands Province new
administration for realising people like us and trying to promote and
market us. We will be happy if they can invite all artists in
important events without bias and to network us with business
community", said Mgwagwa.
NACZ should in future organise workshops for artists in Gweru and
impart skills on how we should conduct ourselves and business with
that spirit in Gweru we are likely to prosper, he added.
“The Midlands Mbira Crew group is a talented music group that contains
their cultural practises and observed that there is vibrant talent in
Midlands”, said Cathrine Mthombeni the Midlands National Arts Council
of Zimbabwe, Provincial Programmes Officer.
She added that she expect the artists in Midlands to be corporative so
that there can jointly market and promote them.
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Midlands Provincial Arts
Manager, Abigal Sivanda said there is talent in the Midlands but
lamented the tendency by the artists to relocate to bigger cities,
hence depriving the province's status as an arts and cultural boiling
point.
“Midlands is blessed with artists from various genres and some of them
use to flee to other cities like Bulawayo and Harare”, she said
